If you find yourself in Serres and happen to go for a walk in the forest of Lailias you could be fooled into thinking you have landed in a scene from a fantasy movie like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. The incredible natural beauty is truly breathtaking. Even better, if you are a lover of winter sports you should make your way to the small ski centre of Lailias and enjoy moments of fun and sport, provided there is snow, of course.
Or if you enjoy calm and relaxation – on shaded paths and at peaks with great view –, or if you are the extreme type, then the famous Serres forest is an ideal destination all year round.
The forest of Lailias covers the western part of the mountain of Vrontous (1.849 m altitude) and is around 25 km north of Serres. It’s one of the most beautiful forests in Greece and consists of tall beech trees and European red pine, while, apart from deer and hares, wild boars and a small number of brown bears also occasionally find shelter in its northern, steeper part. The forest, in total, covers around 32 km²
The mountain of Lailias is part of the European Network Natura 2000, something that unfortunately is not sufficient to protect the forest since – in the framework of the new environmental law that was passed in 2020 – they are trying to open quarry in the North-eastern part, despite strong reactions by the local community.
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